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Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Usain Bolt comment speaks volumes as Gout Gout, 17, shows his true colours
Gout Gout has taken the athletics world by storm over the past six months, and he has already been compared to eight-time Olympic gold-medallist and world record holder, Usain Bolt Rising sprinting star Gout Gout has set his sights on emulating the legendary Usain Bolt by dominating the track, as he continues to impress at a tender age. The 17-year-old prodigy, who clinched silver in the 200m at last year's World Championships in Lima, boasts an impressive eight victories at the Australian Athletics Championships. His prowess was further highlighted when he shattered a national record in Brisbane last December, clocking an astonishing 20.04s in the 200m. With the athletics world buzzing about his potential, Gout Gout has openly expressed his ambition to reign supreme in the sport, much like Bolt once did. Speaking to FOX Sports Australia, he said: "The limit is just obviously winning Olympics and winning World Championships, and honestly dominating like Bolt did. "I think that's a limit that's reachable for me," reports the Mirror US. The statement affirms Gout Gout's self-belief and his sense of destiny within the realm of athletics. Following his explosive emergence, many Olympic enthusiasts are already predicting that Gout Gout will don his country's colours at the Brisbane Summer Games in 2032. Yet, the young sprinter has his eyes set on achieving greatness even sooner, at the LA Games slated for three years from now. He added: "The times I've run so far could potentially make it into finals, make the top four, top five, top six. Just getting better and aiming for LA obviously would be a great achievement and trying to be on that podium running against [Letsile] Tebogo, Noah [Lyles], [Lachlan] Kennedy, all them athletes. "That's definitely a goal in mind and keep aiming for the top." With a haul of eight Olympic golds, Bolt is immortalised as an athletics legend, and with world records of 9.58s and 19.19s in the 100m and 200m since 2009, he's set a high bar that fans reckon is insurmountable. Gout Gout's rise has drawn eager comparisons to Bolt, though the Aussie sensation confesses the constant parallels wear him out. He said: "It definitely gets tiring. I'm trying to make a name for myself." Yet, it was a special moment when Bolt acknowledged Gout Gout online, a nod he appreciated. He added: "I think he said, 'He looks like young me' so that was pretty cool." It's been a breakout year for Gout Gout, finishing second in the Maurie Plant Meet's 200m to Kennedy in March, followed by taking gold at the Australian Athletics Championships last month. Only time will reveal the heights this young sensation can reach, and we may even see him representing his country on the global stage, potentially challenging Bolt's records and glory, in the years to come.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Gout Gout's coach doesn't mince her words as she tells 17-year-old harsh truth
Sprinter Gout Gout is aiming to become a household name in athletics, but the 17-year-old's coach Di Sheppard has warned that he will have to give up a lot to get there Gout Gout has been given a stark warning by his coach, Di Sheppard, that his life won't be like that of an average 17-year-old, with socialising off the cards for the time being. The teenage sprinting sensation is making waves in the sprinting world, having already won a national championship and seemingly on the fast track to international fame in athletics. But it's not all about speed on the track; there's a lot of sacrifice involved too, and coach Sheppard is determined to prepare Gout for a future filled with victories. Speaking to The Guardian, she praised the young athlete's "emotional intelligence" but stressed that his "massive ability" means he'll have to let go of typical teenage experiences. Sheppard said: "I've been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can't go out where you want. "He's at that point pretty much now, which is kind of tough when you think he's still at school." Sheppard also emphasised the importance of Gout keeping his eyes on the prize, with the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane as his ultimate target – a stage where he dreams of sweeping the medals and shattering records. She added: "Things will plateau, that's a natural part. It has to come to a, 'Bang, OK, now we've got to find our next adaption phase to go up'. "For us to go to the top – we're still a long way from there – and because we know that's our end goal, we don't get too wrapped up into the good things that come. They're stepping stones, and that's how I've tried to teach Gout. There's no clear path up." Gout has his sights set on Olympic glory and is also on track to challenge more of Usain Bolt's legendary sprint records. Gout has already taken Bolt's record for the fastest 200 metres by a 16-year-old, clocking an astonishing 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Championships in 2024. This feat not only surpassed Bolt's 2003 time of 20.13 seconds but also shattered Peter Norman's Oceanian record of 20.06 seconds, which had been unchallenged since 1968. But Gout isn't stopping there; he is aiming for Bolt's 100m record next. The athlete already shown promise with two sub-10-second runs at the Australian Athletics Championships earlier this year - although they were wind-assisted, meaning they don't officially count. Bolt's 100m world record of 9.58 seconds was set at the age of 22 years old - and Gout is not far behind with an unofficial 9.99 seconds right now. The Australian's performances at a much younger age hint at the potential for him to topple the Jamaican sprint king's record in the not-too-distant future.
Irish Independent
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout to make World Championship debut in Tokyo
Gout, 17, has captured the attention by beating Usain Bolt's record for a 16-year-old in the 200m and setting the Australian Under-18s record in the 100m with a time of 10.17 seconds. Gout explained he is excited by the opportunity to face the best in the world over 200m, in what will be his senior debut, and is looking forward to the Championships in Tokyo. 'I'm super excited to be picked to run the 200 in Tokyo at the World Championships,' he said. 'That's what we've been aiming for. 'I'm looking forward to September being part of my first Australian senior team and looking forward to seeing what I can do against the best of the best.' Following the Australian Athletics Championships, Gout is set to make his Team Australia debut in the Open ranks in the 200m event. Building on his success in December at the Australian schools championships which saw him become the fastest 16-year-old in history over 200m with a time of just 20.04 seconds. At only 17, there is already speculation about the possibility of Gout competing not only at LA 2028 but also at the 2032 Games, set to be hosted in his home city of Brisbane. The Championships in Tokyo will provide new challenges for Gout as he comes up against the world's current fastest man over the 100m, the USA's Noah Lyles, for the first time. Speaking on the potential success of the selected Australian athletes in Tokyo, including Gout, Australian Athletics general high-performance manager Andrew Faichney was optimistic. He said: 'These athletes have not only proven themselves to be the best in the country, but so too the best in the world.'
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Athletics-Australia's Gout on track for World Championships debut at 17
Athletics - Australian Athletics Championships - Western Australian Athletics Stadium, Perth, Australia - April 10, 2025 Gout Gout celebrates winning the Under 20's Men's 100m final Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Teen sprinter Gout Gout has been confirmed on Australia's team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The 17-year-old son of South Sudanese immigrants will run in the 200 metres after clocking a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds in Perth this month to win his first national title. The Queenslander's rapid rise has raised comparisons with Jamaican great Usain Bolt and made him the poster boy for Australian track and field, seven years before the country hosts the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. "I'm super excited to be picked to run the 200 in Tokyo at the World Championships," Gout said in an Australian Athletics statement on Wednesday. "That's what we've been aiming for.I'm looking forward to September and seeing what I can do against the best of the best." Gout headlines a talented young contingent on the Australian team which includes 18-year-old Cameron Myers, who took the 1,500 national title in Perth and ran the fastest-ever mile indoors among under-20 athletes (3:47.48) at the Millrose Games in New York in February. Former high jump world champion Eleanor Patterson, who took bronze at the Paris Olympics, was also named on Wednesday among the first tranche of athletes confirmed for the team. Patterson will bid for a sixth medal in major championships, having taken indoor silver at Nanjing in March behind compatriot Nicola Olyslagers. Peter Bol, who ran fourth in the 800 at the Tokyo Olympics, will return to the Japanese capital in good form after taking the national record (1:43.79) at the Perth championships. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Australia's Gout on track for World Championships debut at 17
Athletics - Australian Athletics Championships - Western Australian Athletics Stadium, Perth, Australia - April 10, 2025 Gout Gout celebrates winning the Under 20's Men's 100m final Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT Athletics - Australian Athletics Championships - Western Australian Athletics Stadium, Perth, Australia - April 10, 2025 Gout Gout celebrates winning the Under 20's Men's 100m final Richard Wainwright/AAP Image via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT MELBOURNE - Teen sprinter Gout Gout has been confirmed on Australia's team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The 17-year-old son of South Sudanese immigrants will run in the 200 metres after clocking a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds in Perth this month to win his first national title. The Queenslander's rapid rise has raised comparisons with Jamaican great Usain Bolt and made him the poster boy for Australian track and field, seven years before the country hosts the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. "I'm super excited to be picked to run the 200 in Tokyo at the World Championships," Gout said in an Australian Athletics statement on Wednesday. "That's what we've been aiming for. I'm looking forward to September and seeing what I can do against the best of the best." Gout headlines a talented young contingent on the Australian team which includes 18-year-old Cameron Myers, who took the 1,500 national title in Perth and ran the fastest-ever mile indoors among under-20 athletes (3:47.48) at the Millrose Games in New York in February. Former high jump world champion Eleanor Patterson, who took bronze at the Paris Olympics, was also named on Wednesday among the first tranche of athletes confirmed for the team. Patterson will bid for a sixth medal in major championships, having taken indoor silver at Nanjing in March behind compatriot Nicola Olyslagers. Peter Bol, who ran fourth in the 800 at the Tokyo Olympics, will return to the Japanese capital in good form after taking the national record (1:43.79) at the Perth championships. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
